Abstract
Changes of acute phase of atherosclerosis were studied in rats loaded witha mixture of massive doses of vitamin D. and cholesterol by a simple method similar toAltmans. Preferential sites of calcification and degeneration were observed in the vascularsystenn and parenchymal tissues. In the aorta, marked ca1cifica[ion and degeneration wereseen in the elastic membranes autd smooth muscle cells of the tunica media. At the sametime, an apparent accumulation of lipid droplets was recognized in the calcified and degenerated medial areas. On the other hand, in such muscular arteries as those of thecoronary arterial system wI?ich had undergone marked medial necrosis, lipid depositionwas very slight, if any, in most cases. Reparative changes occurred in affected blood vesselsshortly after the start of vitamin D.-loading. In the organs other than the arterial system, S(XCI( parenchymal degeneration and calcification were observed in the heart, kidneys, stomach, intestine and lungs, and only slight changes in the liver, spleen, pancreas, choroidplexus and adrenals.
